Fuel-feeding mechanism for furnaces.



No. 654,538. Patented July 24, |900.

A.' W. GRIFFITH. FUEL FEEDING MECHA-NISM FOR FURNAGES. (Appication sled Apr. 24, 1900.

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No. 654,538. Patented July 24, |900.

' A. W. GRIFFITH.

FUEL FEEDING MECAHA NISM FOR FURNAGES.

Apr. 24, 1900.)

(Applikation filed sheets-shan 2 (No Modal.)

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ASA WALTER GRIFFITH, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO THE LUCKETT SMOKELESS FUEL EOONOMIZER COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND.

FUELmi-'EEDING MECHANISN FOR FURNCS.

sPEcFIGATIoN forming part of Letters Patent ivo. 654,538, dated tiny 24, reco.

Application filed April 24, 1900.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ASA WALTER GRIFFITH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented a certain new and useful Fuel-Feeding Mechanism for Furnaces, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to f nel-feeding mechanism for furnaces, being particularly adapted for use in connection with coal-burning furnaces.

The object of the invention is to provide in connection with a furnace simple mechanism for feeding the fuel in regular and uniform quantity to the lire-box; also to provide means whereby the amount of fuel being fed to the furnace may be regulated. The mech- 2o anism is constructed and arranged so that the fuel is fed automatically to the furnace in such quantities as to secure uniform and economical combustion.

To this end the vinvention consists in the combination, with a furnace employing dead, rocking, or dumping grates spaced. apart, of a magazine arranged between the grates and adapted to receive the fuel supplied by the feeder, so that the fuel may overflow upon 3o the grates. `In connection with this construction twyer blocks or pipes are arranged at the sides of the grates and at opposite sides of the magazine for the purpose of supplying air or steazn,or both together, which is discharged 3 5 through it into the mass of fuel in such quantities as to effect perfect combustion and do away with smoke.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the ensuing 4o description.

In the accompanying drawings,- Figure l is a sectional perspective view of a furnace having the feeding mechanism applied thereto and constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken through the magazine. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the furnace, dac. y i Similar nu merals of reference are employed Serial No. 14,124. (No model-J t0 designate corresponding parts in all the views of the drawings.

The fuel-feeding mechanism contemplated in this invention is designed to be used upon and in connection with any form of coal-burning furnace, l designating the walls of a furnace of ordinary construction, 2 the bridgewall, and 3 the fire-box.

In carrying out the present invention side grates 4 are' employed, extending from the front wall rearward to the bridge-wall, as shown in Fig. 4, and arranged adjacent to the opposite side walls thereof, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Interposed between the side grates 4 is a fuel-magazine comprising in- `clined and downwardly-converging side walls 5 and an inclined and rearwardly-sloping rear wall 6. The side walls 5 are offset `at their upper ends to form horizontal rests or seats 7 for a series of twyer blocks or pipes 8, which are arranged between the vmagazine 9 and the side grates 4. The sides of the magazine are further extended upward to preferably sit slightly oblique, as shown at 10, reaching to the side grates, so as to prevent the fuel from passing downward between the side walls of the magazine and the adjacent edges of the grates. The twyer-blocks are provided with perforations 1l at their inner sides and other perforations 12 in their upper sides for the purpose of supplying air orl steam, or both, to the mass of fuel contained on the grates, thus effecting more perfect combustion of the fuel and economizing in the use of the same. The steam or air, or both, may be admitted to the twyer-blocks in any convenient way and from any desired source. l

The side walls 5 of the magazine are provided at their lower edges with outwardlyextending horizontal flanges 13, to which are bolted similar iianges l4,extending outwardly from the upper edges of the side walls l5 of a ch ute l6,which is arranged beneath the magazine. wardly-projecting flanges 17 at their lower edges, to which is bolted the bottom 1S of the chute, said bottom inclining downward toward'the front of the furnace, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of conveying to the 10o The sides 15 are provided with out- 95 front of the furnace any small particles of coal or dust which may escape through the feeder hereinafter described.

Arranged at the front of the furnace is a hopper'19, having an inclined front wall 20, which terminates at the point 21 to provide an opening through'which the feeder 22 reciprocates. The feeder 22 is disposed in an approximately-horizontal plane and is reciprocated in such plane by mechanism to be described. The forward or outer portion 23 of the feeder slides under the lower edge of the front wall 2O of the hopper and forms a rest or table for the fuel contained in the hopper. At 24 the feeder is offset downwardly to form a pocket 25 to receive the fuel which falls by gravity from the hopper into said pocket. The feeder then extends in an approximately-horizontal plane into the magazine, forming the bottom of the magazine, and is provided on its bottom and at opposite sides with pendent flanges 26, which rest upon antifriction rollers 27, mounted in the upper portion of the chute 16. The feeder is also provided with one or more ratchet-shaped teeth or ribs 28 at a point or Apoints intermediate its ends, whereby in the rearward or return movement of the feeder the fuel is caused to pass over said teeth or ribs and in the next inward movement of the feeder to be carried into the magazine. A stationary tooth, bar, or rib 29 extends across t-he space occupied by the feeder and is arranged adjacent to the front of the magazine 9, so as to prevent the fuel in the magazine from backing into the hopper. Two or more of these may be employed. Said bar or rib 29 is provided with a forwardly-declining upper surface 30, which will allow the fuel to pass readily thereover as it is forced into the magazine by the feeder.

Arranged at the front of the magazine and supported in suitable bearings 31 on a bracket 32 is a driving-shaft 33, provided with a bandreceiving pulley 34, which may be either an ordinary single pulley or a cone-pulley, so that the speed of the driving-shaft may be changed according to requirements. -The shaft 33 is provided with a worm 34, which meshes with a worm-wheel 35, mounted on a shaft journaled in a suitable bearing 36, conv nected with the front of the furnace. Mounted upon the shaft of the worm-wheel 35 is a Idisk 37, having a radial extension 33 and provided with a dovetailed slot 39 in one side, which extends diametrically across the disk and iscontinued through the radial extension 38. In said slot is mounted a dovetailed bar or plate 40, which carries at or near one end a crank-pin 41. This crank-pin is preferably screwed into and through the dovetailed bar 40 and when tightened serves to fix the position or adjustment of the bar 39. In this way the distance of the cranlvpin from the center of the disk may be varied for regulating the stroke given to the feeder, and consequently the amount of fuel fed into the magazine. A

' pivotal link 42 connects the crank-pin 41 with the feeder 22 for reciprocating the feeder, as

.clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In operation the hopper is filled with fuel andthe shaft 33 revolved. This imparts a rotary movement lo the shaft carrying the disk 37, and by means of the interposed link 42 a reciprocatory motion is imparted to the feeder 22. In the outward movement of the feeder the fuel gravitates into the pocket 25 and is carried inward toward the magazine during the inward movement of the feeder. In the next outward movement of the feeder the fuel is caused to pass the rib or ribs 28, whereupon said fuel is engaged by the approximately-vertical shoulder of the rib or tooth and forced inward over the stationary bar or rib 29 to the magazine. The fuel banks up in the magazine and finally overflows upon the side grates, where it is consumed. The rapidity of feed may be regulated by chang ing the position of the crank-pin, and thus regulating the length of stroke of the feeder, in a manner that will be readily understood. It will thus be seen that an automatic and uniform feeding of the fuel to the furnace is effected, and, further, that by the construction described economy .and more perfect combustion are attained. It will also be seen that the amount of fuel fed to the furnace may be easily regulated. The constant presence of an attendant is also rendered unnecessary.

I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction hereinafter described, but reserve the right to change, modify, or vary the construction within the scope of this invention. The feeder may be reciprocated by either a crank, eccentric, or cam motion.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is= 1. The combination with a furnace embodyya ing a magazine and hopper, of a reciprocatory fuel-feeder, forming the bottom of the magazine and hopper, and automatic means for imparting motion to said feeder, substans tially as described.

2. A furnace containing a magazine and hopper, in combination with a reciprocatory feeder operating within the magazine, and forming the bottom of the magazine and hopi per, and power-driven mechanism for imparti ing reciprocatory movement to the feeder, substantially as described.

3. A furnace embodying a magazine and a fuelhopper, in` combination with a reciprocatory feeder forming the bottom of the hopper and magazine, means for driving said feeder, and means for varying the length of stroke of the feeder, substantially as described.

4. A furnace embodying a magazine and hopper, in combination with a reciprocatory feeder forming the bottom of the hopper and magazine, a ratchet tooth or rib on the fuelreceiving surface of the feeder, a stationary rib or bar above the feeder and adjacent to the entrance of the magazine, and means for IOO imparting a reciprocatory movement to the feeder, substantially as described.

5. A furnace containing a magazine,and an eXteriorly-arranged hopper, in combination with a horizontally -disposed reciprocating feeder forming the bottom of the hopper and magazine and provided with a fuel-receiving pocket on its upper side, a ratchet rib or tooth on the feeder, a stationary tooth or bar arranged above the feeder and at or near the entrance to the magazine and having an inclined upper surface, means for reciprocating said feeder, and means for adjusting the length of the stroke of the feeder, substantially as described.

6. A furnace containing a magazine,and an eXteri0rly-arranged hopper, in combination with a horizontally-disposed reciprocating feeder which constitutes the bottom of the hopper and magazine, antifriction-rollers on which the feeder rides, and means for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the feeder, substantially as described.

7. A furnace containing a magazine and an eXteriorly-arranged hopper, in combination with a reciprocatory feeder moving in the bottom of the hopper and magazine, a rotary shaft, a disk thereon provided with a slot, an adjustable plate or bar mounted in said slot and carrying a crank-pin, and a link interposed between said cran k-pin and the feeder, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination with a furnace, of an internallyarranged magazine comprising up- Wardly-diverging side Walls and rear wallJ grates arranged at opposite sides and adjacent to the top of the magazine, a hopper arranged exteriorly of the furnace, and a reciprocatory feeder operating through the f ur nace-wall and forming the bottom of the hopper and magazine, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with a furnace, of grates arranged at opposite sides of the fireboX,a magazine interposed between the grates and extending downward below the plane of the grates, a hopper, a reciprocatory feeder operating in and forming the bottom of the hopper and magazine, and a for wardly-declining chute arranged below the feeder and magazine, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with afurnace, of side grates spaced apart and extending from the front wall to the bridge-wall, a magazine interposed between the side grates and extending downward from the plane thereof, a hops per, a feeder forming the bottom of the hopper and magazine, and twyers interposed between the magazine and side grates, substantially as described.

ll. The combination with a furnace, hav-` ing side grates spaced apart therein, of a fue1 magazine interposed between the grates and extending downward therefrom and provided with bottom flanges, a forwardlydeclining chute having iianges secured to the flanges of the magazine, a hopper, and a reciprocatory fuel-feeder forming the bottom of the magazine and hopper, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 7o in presence of two witnesses.

ASA WALTER GRIFFITH.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. Tonn, WILLIAM W. PRITOHETT. 

